22
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
which operate in the opposite direction, may be considered
together. The importance of mud for one type of wader and
shingle for another is recognized. Most people associate mud
and the Essex coast, but one rarely hears mention of the shingle
of this coast. In the Colne estuary we find both of these associa-
tions. The river and its tributary creeks are all contained in
muddy basins, but from Sandy Point along the rest of the
coast, not merely that dealt with here, but practically as far as
the Stour, a shingly beach is found. It is this shingle, no doubt,
which accounts for the presence of such birds as the Turnstone,
Oyster-catcher, Sanderling, etc. It is this double association
which is responsible for the good list of waders which I have been
able to put together. As a centre of observation of this type of
bird the Colne cannot be improved on, that is, in Essex. The
piece of coast between Sandv and Colne Points is especially
worthy of attention. It is a Blakeney Point on a smaller scale.
It is a long narrow peninsula, almost an island, probably quite so
at high tide, formed by the sea on one side and Ray Creek on
the other. This strip of land is largely covered by shingle, which
is being steadily driven up by the sea. It is so well protected
by nature that it can be approached on foot only from one end,
and, with the added protection of man, would form an excellent
nature-reserve, suitable for such birds as Terns, and, perhaps,
the Oyster-catcher. Such matters rarely receive thought, but
when one does happen to reflect it comes home to one with great
force how little is done to protect the natural features of Essex.
In this respect the County has a lot of lee-way to make up,
especially when we remember the splendid work which has been
accomplished in Norfolk. I regret the disappearance of the
Essex Bird Protection Society.
Due attention has been paid to migration. What little
information has been obtained mainly confirms previous state-
ments. The late-July-early-August passage movement affected
this district as others. The limicoline birds, as the Whimbrel,
Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Knot,
Turnstone, Sanderling, etc., duty made their appearance and
mostly passed farther southward. The two Black-backed Gulls
did not appear on this movement in such numbers as were
observed on other estuaries, but a few Lesser Black-backs
appeared, stayed a few weeks (or was there a constant passage